New Zealand were the fifth country to play Test Cricket back in 1929/30 when an England team lead by Harold Gilligan played a four match series. The purpose of this article is to enable comparisons to be made with the more recent elevations of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and, perhaps, to stimulate some debate.

Bangladesh became a test nation at the dawn of the new millenium. But where their predecessors achieved a triumph, Bangladesh- who briefly threatened a shock as big as Zimbabwe’s- collapsed to a humiliating defeat.

The atrocities that took place in the City of Mumbai will never be forgotten, but England have now finally received the green light to progress with the Indian tour, and cricket will be doing its utmost to bring a welcome distraction to the nation.

Does Andrew Symonds really deserve his spot in the Australian Test Side ahead of Shane Watson at this point of time? I think Watson can consider himself extremely unlucky at the moment, and I’ll tell you why.